City council business on Oct. 23 included first‑reading zoning actions for a former school site in East Austin (items 80 and 81). The items were offered for consent first reading only and—after public comment—the council approved the consent package; several council members recorded abstentions or no votes on the items and asked staff to return with further details.

Neighbors and community advocates said they support rehabilitation of the historic Rosewood school building but pressed the developer and the city for written assurances: a restrictive covenant, retention of the school structure, traffic‑management protections for the adjacent residential streets, and commitments that future development would not displace long‑term residents.

What speakers said

- Kim Barker, a preservation professional and nearby resident, said her neighborhood supports the developer’s stated plan to retain and rehabilitate the historic school, but asked the council to require a restrictive covenant before zoning entitlements are granted.

- Sam Golub, a family therapist who has worked with the Housing Authority, warned that higher‑intensity commercial zoning across the street from the Booker T. affordable housing campus could increase traffic risk for children who walk to nearby schools.

- Community members including Joshua Collier and Aaron Cloninger said the neighborhood has deep historic roots and that zoning should reflect the site’s civic and educational history. Commenters asked the council to require specific social‑benefit anchors (for example, healthy‑food retail or community co‑working space) and to protect against displacement.

Council action and votes

- Planning staff presented items 80 and 81 as first‑reading consent items to allow more time for continued discussions; after public comment the council adopted the consent motion as read.

- Council Member Duchin recorded an abstention on items 80 and 81; Council Members Harper Madison and Velasquez announced they would vote no on those items at the final consent vote. The mayor pro tem was absent.

What the community wants next

Speakers asked the council to secure enforceable commitments prior to final zoning approval, including a restricted covenant that would lock in the developer’s rehabilitation commitment and other neighborhood protections. Neighbors also requested that the city ensure the project’s design and permits include traffic‑calming, safe pedestrian routes for children, and anti‑displacement provisions.

Why it matters

The site sits near major community assets — the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, Booker T. affordable housing, Yellowjacket Stadium and other neighborhood institutions — and residents argued the zoning outcome should protect local families and preserve cultural and educational uses.

The council’s first‑reading approvals keep the review on the calendar but left open additional opportunities to secure written commitments and conditions before final readings.